Characteristics of the conical pile type

burning test method for determining the

potential hazards of oxidizing material
Kazutoshi Hasegawa, Kazutomo Kondo*, Yoshihisa Hirata** and Hidefumi
Naba
Fire Research Institute, Fire Defence Agency, Mitaka, Tokyo 181, Japan
* Sakai City and Takaishi City Fire Protection District, Sakai, Osaka 590, Japan
** Hirakata-Neyagawa Cooperated Fire Department, Hirakata, Osaka 573, Japan

This paper describes work on the characteristics of the conical pile type burning test method
(United Nations method), for determining the potential hazards of oxidizing materials. Tests were
performed under various conditions to clarify the effect of factors such as: particle size of
oxidizing material and wood powder; hygroscopic character of wood powder; humidity; mass of
sample; position of ignition source; composition of mixture of oxidizing material and wood
powder; type of wood and velocity of air draft. Potassium bromate, potassium perchlorate and
ammonium persulphate were used as oxidizing agents. To obtain reliable and reproducible data
by the burning test method, the following points should be considered: Wood powder with a
particle size ~32 mesh, gives reproducible results independent of manufacturing process, but
when the particle size is >32 mesh, both the particle size and the apparent density should be
given. When the particle size of the oxidizing materials becomes small (e.g. (65 mesh) the state
of burning is stable and the scatter of data is also less. Wood powder with a water content < 5%
does not always follow an equilibrium state under burning test conditions (i.e. temperature
20 f 5 “C and humidity 50 + 5%). The larger the mass of sample, the closer the burning is to
steady state, and a sample mass of 30 g was found to achieve this state. The behaviour of the
burning mixtures depends on the position of ignition on the conical pile, and varies with the
oxidizing material. When the oxidizing material is the major component in the mixture
(=60-80%), the state of burning is stable, but mixtures containing i 50% oxidizing material
(particularly potassium perchlorate) burn intermittently and are unstable. Burning of the mixture
is hardly affected by different types of wood. The burning time changes slightly with the draft
velocity of air.

(Keywords: hazard; modelling; oxidizing material)

Oxidizing substances are defined by the United Nations equipped with a 60 mesh steel screen to support the
Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous sample. The sample bed is normally 178 mm long and
Goods as substances which, while in themselves not rates are measured over a distance of 127 mm, begin-
necessarily combustible, may generally be yielding ning at least 25.5 mm from the point of ignition,
oxygen, cause, or contribute to, the combustion of However, a 25.5 mm high by 51 mm wide bed gave
other material’. Three methods have been developed more reliable results.
for evaluating the potential hazards of oxidizing mate- The method proposed by the UK to the Interna-
rials and classifying them based on the characteristics of tional Maritime Organization (IMO)’ involves mould-
burning, explosibility and sensitivity of the oxidizing ing a mixture of an oxidizing substance and a combusti-
materials mixed with an organic substance. The ble substance (sawdust or cellulose) into a 250 mm long
methods are: the burning rate test; tests concerning triangular prism with 14 mm sides. The sample is then
propagation of deflagration or detonation; and tests for ignited at one end by contacting with the tip of a flame
thermal or impact ignition. for not more than 15 s, and the burning rate is
The burning rate test proposed by the U.S. Bureau measured. This test has been examined in detail by
of Mines2 evaluates the combustibility of solid inor- comparison with other results4.5, and has been adopted
ganic oxidizers mixed with red oak sawdust, in the sieve by the European Communities”.
size range 12-50 mesh. Burning rates are measured In the pot method proposed by Uehara et ai.5, a
using a rectangular rack mounted horizontally and mixture of an oxidising substance and ground soft wood
chips, which are pulverized to pass through a 20 mesh
Received21 March 1989 and a 10 mesh sieve respectively, is placed in a metal
09504230/99/030135-10$3.00
Q 1999 Butterworth &Co. IPublishers) Ltd

J. Loss Prev. Process Ind., 7989, Vo12, July 135

Characteristics of the conical pile type burning test: K. Hasegawa et al.

pot with a diameter and height of 36 mm and a capacity powder; hygroscopic character of wood powder:
of 30 ml. The mixture is then ignited with a gas flame humidity: mass of sample; position of ignition source;
on the upper side, and the time taken from ignition to composition of the mixture of oxidizing material and
burning out of the mixture is measured. The chamber wood powder; type of wood and velocity of air draft.
in which samples are prepared should allow tempera- Potassium bromate, potassium perchlorate and ammo-
ture to be maintained at ambient and relative humidity nium persulphate were used as oxidizing agents.
at SO-60%) to produce reliable and reproducible data.
The burning rate test recommended by the United Experimental
Nations’ involves forming a 30 g mixture of oxidizing Apparatus
substance and wood sawdust into a cone with base Figure I shows the chamber used in the combustion
diameter ~35 mm and height 25 mm, on a cool, experiments5. It is equipped with a ventilator for air
impervious, low-heat conducting surface. Ignition is supply and evacuation to control the humidity. The
provided by a hot wire of inert metal positioned 1 mm reaction conditions, at atmospheric pressure, were
above the test surface and spanning the base of the temperature 20 + 5 “C and humidity 50 f 5%. Sam-
cone of the mixture. The time taken for the mixture to ples were ignited by Nichrome wire heated electrically
burn until all the flame has disappeared, is measured. to about 1000 “C. The two igniters for various positions
The burning rate of the sample is compared with are shown in Figure 2.
those of three reference substances (potassium bro-
mate, potassium perchlorate and ammonium persul- Procedure
phate), for classification into one of three classes. The The oxidizing material and wood powder were mixed
principle of all these methods is similar, and involves thoroughly at every test in a prescribed ratio by weight.
measuring the burning rate for a mixture of an The mixture was formed into a conical pile with a ratio
oxidizing substance and a combustible substance. To of base diameter to height of 1.75, on a cool,
obtain reproducible and reliable data from a burning impervious, hardened ceramic-wool plate. The samples
rate test, it is essential to know what kind of factors were weighed, mixed and formed inside a glove box
affect the results, and what effect each factor has. This with the atmosphere dried by silica gel. The igniter was
paper describes tests using the United Nations method’ pressed softly onto the mixture until the pile ignited or
under various conditions to clarify the effect of factors until it was clear that ignition would not occur.
such as: particle size of oxidizing material and wood After ignition, the manner of combustion was

-r

: tu” Nozzle

/
Figure 1 Combustion chamber

136 J. Loss Prev. Process Ind., 1999, Vol2, July

 Characteristics of the conical pile type burning test: K. Hasegawa et al.

Wood powder was normally made by wmminuting

the curly soft tips of Western firs (Abies spp.) and then
sieving. A water content of (5 wt% was maintained by
forming a layer ~25 mm thick, diying at 105 “C for 4 h
and then storing in a desiccator until required.

Results and discussion

State of combustion
Behaviour during burning was divided into three states.
Flaming, where the mixture burns visibly with a
a flame;
Glowing, in which burning is marked by embers
without flame, and looks like the surface combustion
of particles; and
Smouldering, where carbonization spreads gradually
as a black front with smoke.
Typical pictures of these states are shown in Figure 3.
The time taken for a mixture to burn from ignition until
either all flames and glowing had disappeared, or until
smoke was no longer produced, was recorded using a
stopwatch. By inspection, complete burning of all the
wood powder into ash or char, even inside the pile, and
incomplete burning that had discontinued halfway or
64
remained as wood-coloured powder, were easily recog-
h
” nised.
Figure2 Igniters: a, positioned along the horizontal line
creeping on an inclined plane of the cone of mixture; b, on top
Particle shape and size
of the cone of mixture Particle shape. The particle shapes of oxidizing mat-
erials and wood powders were determined visually, by
closely observed. The test was repeated three or five photographs through both optical and electron micro-
times, under identical conditions. scopes. The particles of oxidizing materials appeared
‘lumpy’, independent of sieve size. ‘Clumping’, by
Samples clustering around larger particles, was greater for
Potassium bromate (PB), potassium perchlorate (PP) PB > PP > AP even with identical grades passed
and ammonium persulphate (AP), provided to a special through the same sieves, as shown in Figure 4. Wood
grade in JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard), were used particles >32 mesh had various external shapes, e.g.
as oxidizing materials. They were dried at 65 “C for lumps, bent plates or spicules, depending on manufac-
12 h, ground using an agate mortar and pestle, divided turing processes. However, wood particles < 48 mesh
into size fractions using the Tyler screen series, and were almost identical in appearance, independent of
then stored in a desiccator containing silica gel until both the comminution process and the type of wood.
required. Figure 5 shows a typical photograph of wood particles.

Figure 3 Behaviour of burning mixtures: a, flaming; b, glowing; c. smouldering

J. Loss Prev. Process Ind., 1999, Vol2, July 137

Characteristics of the conical pile type burning test: K. Hasegawa et al.

KBrOa, KC104. INH~IzSZOEZ

00 A : Flaming
Smouldarinp
-& - R
‘ atio 5:5
---I-z-r----:Ratio 8~2

Figure 5 A photograph of Western firs wood particles. Parti-

cles ranging from 80 to 150 mesh; scale, 200 pm

Particle size and shape of wood powder. Burning

times were measured using oxidizing materials of
constant particle size, while varying the particle size of IO

wood powder, and results are shown in Figure 6. The 6

burning time was found to depend strongly on the 6

grade of wood powder. For ratios of oxidizing material
to wood powder of 5:5 and 8:2 for PB mixtures, and of I i I II11111 I ,,,,,
0.1 0.2 Q4 0.6 0.8 I 2 4 6
5:s for PP mixtures, the burning times decreased as the Sieve mesh size/(mm)
sizes increased. In contrast, a ratio of 8:2 for PP I I I I I I I I
mixtures, and S:5 and 8:2 for AP increased the burning 150 100 65 48 20 IO 8 4
Sieve mesh ske /(mesh)
times. The burning time for a ratio of 8:2 for AP
decreased rapidly when the particle size was t48 mesh, Fi6we 6 Relationship between burning time and particle size
of Western firs wood powder. Mass of sample, 30 g; particle size
and the state of combustion changed noticeably from of oxidizing materials, 65-150 mesh; position of ignition, above
smouldering to flaming. base line of cone; vertical range of data point, standard
The influence on the burning time of wood powder deviation

particle shape was examined using two series of graded

particles, prepared by different processes. One series
was made by slicing a 1 mm thick board perpendicular
to the grain of wood, pulverizing with a rotary crusher,
then classifying into several grades. The other series
was prepared by using the same crusher to pulverize
wood shavings to ~0.2 mm in thickness, parallel to the
grain of wood. For both series, Japanese cedar (Cryp-
tomeria Japonica) was used. The results are shown in
Figure 7. With wood particles > 32 mesh, the different
particle shapes had a significant effect on the burning
time. The behaviour of particles < 32 mesh was
independent of the process of manufacture because the
shapes of both series of wood powder were almost
identical. This behaviour was more noticeable for
mixtures in the ratio 5:5, than the ratio 8:2. Mixtures in
the ratio 8:2 in the sizes ranging from 65 mesh to 100
mesh gave incomplete burning. Data from Figure 7
were plotted on the graph of the relationship between
burning time and apparent density, as shown in
Figure 8. The burning time clearly depends on the
apparent density regardless of the differences in the

138 J. Loss Prev. Process Ind., 1989. Vol2, July

 Characteristics of the conical pi/e type burning test: K. Hasegawa et al.

Wood powder made from a baard I mm thick Wood powder made from o bawd Imm thick
Flaming ,from a wood shavings 0.2mm thick }Floming
from a wood shavings 0.2mm thick I
‘Ratio 5.5 Ratio 5’5
_---- Ratio 8:2
.Ratio 8:2

@
“O.-c
V

6OC-

400-

z 200
:
;:
._
.-E 1 EO-
- 100
‘E
F 80
El
al 60

I I I I
‘O 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20

’ ?I 1 1 / 1 IIIII , ‘ Apparent density/fg/m I)

I 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 I 2
Figure 8 Relationship between burning time and apparent
Slew mesh slze/(mm)
I I I I I density. Conditions as in Figure 7
100 65 32 20 IO
Sieve mesh size/(mesh) 0 :KBr03,Flaming
- +--:Ratio 5:5
Figure 7 Relationship between burning time and particle size
---kzi-- :Ratio 6: 2
of Japanese cedar wood powder. Mass of sample, 30 g;
oxidizing material, KCIO,; particle size of oxidizing material, 60
46-100 mesh; position of ignition, above base line of cone;
.
vertical range of data point, standard deviation. Incomplete
burning is plotted on the infinity

process of making the powder. Therefore, to yield

reliable results the particle size and the apparent
density of the wood powder must be specified when the
particle size is >32 mesh.
.-
/
Particle size of oxidizing materials.
Burning times
were observed using an identical grade of wood
powder, and varying particle size of the oxidizing
material. The relationships between burning time and
particle size of the oxidizing materials PB, PP and AP
are illustrated in Figures 9, 10 and 11, respectively. In
all cases, the results show a similar tendency i.e. as the 4-
particle size of the oxidizing agent increases, the 1 IllI I I I I Illll
burning time also increases. While burning the AP 0.06 0.08 CI I a2 0.4 Q6 0.8 I
mixture, a transition from flaming to smouldering was Sieve mesh siza/(mm)

observed. The respective burning times are shown in I I I I I I I I I

200 150 lo0 65 48 35 28 20
Figure 12. As a general rule, as the particle size of the Sleve mesh size /(mesh)
oxidizing material becomes smaller, there is less scatter Figure 9 Relationship between burning time and particle size
in the data and burning becomes more stable. of oxidizing material. Mass of sample, 30 g; type of wood,
Western firs; particle size of wood powder, lo-20 mesh;
position of ignition, above base line of cone; vertical range of
Water content and humidity data point, standard deviation. Incomplete burning is plotted on
Hygroscopic character of wood powder. The hygro- the infinity

J. Loss Prev. Process Ind., 1989, Vol2, July 139

Characteristics of the conical pile type burning test: K. Hasegawa et al.

:KCiO~,Flaming : Flaming
- $-!-:Ratio 5: 5
2 : Smoulderlng 1(NH4)2S2Oa
-**Ratio 5:5
--- + j+- :Ratio 8: 2 -- I-:F--:Rgtio 6:2

Ct-I -1 I-A-I
200 -

ICO-

EO-

60-

40-
T T /

z
:

‘, 20-
.-E
cl

.-:
E
: IO -
4c 6-

6-

2c 4-
I I I I I I I I 1 lllll
006 0.08 0 I 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 I
Sieve mesh size/(mm)
I I I I I I I I Z-
200 150 100 65 48 35 28 20
I I I Illlll
Sieve mesh sire /(mesh)
QO6 a06 01 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.6 I
Figure 10 Relationship between burning time and particle size Sieve mesh sire/(mm)
of oxidizing material. Conditions as in Figure 9
I I I I I I I I I
200 I50 100 65 sizy/(meshI35 28 20
Sieve mesh

Figure 11 Relationship between burning time and particle size

scopic character of the wood powder was tested by of oxidizing material. Conditions as in Figure 9
leaving wood powder with a water content t5%, in a
thermo-hygrostated box at a temperature of 20 f 5 “C
and a humidity of 50 f 5%. Figure 12 illustrates the
change in water content of the wood powder with time.
Wood powder initially containing 2.7% water showed
an increase to 43.0% after 1 h, then little further
change. This suggests that an equilibrium state is
reached after 1 h. _8-0-8----
Weighing, mixing and forming of samples was 2
done inside the glove box. The sample was removed to s /-“’
b
the chamber for combustion and then ignited quickly.
E 5-
In this procedure, the sample should be able to absorb S
moisture for =l min. To compare a sample under these 8
-------Water content 01 the initial Hope
normal steps of procedure with a sample in the f
equilibrium state, the latter was tested after having g .g
been kept in a conical pile in the thermo-hygrostatic 0. I IO 100
Elapsed time /I hrl
box for 3 h under at 20 + 5 “C and 50 + 5% humidity.
As shown in Table 1, there is little difference between Figure 12 Relationship between water content of Western firs
the two burning test results, which coincide within wood powder and elapsed time. Particle size, lo-20 mesh

experimental error. But, if anything, the burning time

of the equilibrated wood is generally slightly longer. difference under normal procedures and the equilib-
From the point of view of combustion there seems little rium state at 20 + 5 “C and 50 + 5% humidity.

140 J. Loss Prev. Process Ind., 1989, Vol2, July

 Characteristics of the conical pile type burning test: K. Hasegawa et al.

burning time, the burning time per unit mass, and the
Table 1 Comparison between the burning time using the
normal procedure and at the equilibrium state mass of sample were obtained as shown in Figure 14.
As the mass of sample increases, the scatter of data
Mixture Burning time/(s)* decreases, and the burning time per unit mass seems to
Ratio of oxidizing be asymptotically constant. This means that the larger
Oxidizing material to Normal Equilibrium the mass becomes, the closer is the burning, on the
material wood powder procedure state whole, to a steady state.
5:5 16.5 (2.8) 18.1 (1.5)
KBr03 8:2 7.8 (1.4) 9.7 (1.3)
5:5 157.9 (10.7) 179.7 (20.3)
KC104 8:2 67.8 (3.5) 79.2 (20.7) 0 : KBrO3
0 Kt,&,\Flamino
5:5 63.0b (5.0) 60.8b (6.3)
(NH&S~O~ - : Burning time
8:2 51 .56 (1.6) 56.5b (4.0)

a Standard deviation parenthesized

b Smouldering time
Test conditions were the same as for Figure 13

Humidity. The relation between the burning time of

the mixture and the humidity of an atmosphere inside
the chamber for testing was obtained as shown in
Figure 13. The burning time shows a general tendency
to increase only slightly as the humidity increases,
except in the case of a PP mixture in the ratio 5:5 where
the data decreases showing considerable scatter at low
and high humidity.

Mass of sample
To investigate the effect of the variation in sample mass
on the burning time, the relationships between both the

0 : KBrO3
KC 104 1 F’am’“g
:” ~NH~)~S~O~,Smauldering
-+I- R
‘ atio 5:5
--5*--- R
‘ atio 6:2

mass of sample /(g)

Figure 14 Burning time and burning time per unit mass as

functions of the mass of sample Red wood (Seguoia semper-
virens). Particle size of wood powder, pass 32 mesh; particle
size of oxidizing materials, 65-150 mesh; ratio of the mixture of
oxidizing material to wood powder, 5 : 5; position of ignition, on
60
the top of cone; vertical range of data point, standard deviation

Position of ignition
Varying the position of ignition using the igniters a and
b illustrated in Figure2, permits study of where a
sample should be ignited initially. Figure 15 shows the
relation between the burning time and the position of
I c /
ignition. In the case of the PB mixture, which bums
rapidly in general, the burning time of a sample ignited
at the lower position becomes shorter than the upper
position due to the upper unburnt part being vigorously
preheated. On the other hand, the burning of the PP
mixture is relatively slow and intermittent, and the
4-
0 20 40 60 80 100
burning time of a sample ignited at the middle position
is the shortest because flame-propagation in both the
Relative humidity /W
upper and lower directions is dominant.
Figure 13 Relationship between burning time and relative
humidity for Western firs wood. Mass of sample, 30 g; particle Ratio of mixture
size of wood powder, lo-20 mesh; particle size of oxidizing
materials, 65-150 mesh; position of ignition, above base line of
The relationship between the burning time and the
cone; vertical range of data point, standard deviation proportion of oxidizing material in the mixture is shown

J. Loss Prev. Process lnd., 1989, Vol2, July 141

Characteristics of the conical pile type burning test: K. Hasegawa et al.

0 :KBrOa KBrO3, KCIO~,(NH&SPO~

0 KC 104 1F’ami”g cl : Flaming
A ‘(NH4)zS20e,Smouldering A Smouldering
- .Ratio 5:5
--- .Rotio 8.2
cl
“r’

60

IO 4t
20
I
30 40
I I
XI
I
60 70
I I
00
I
90
I
100
8
Content of oxidizing material in mixture with oridizmg
6 maternal and wood powder /(wt %I

Figure 16 Relationship between burning time and content of

‘\ 0 IO 20 30 40 50 60 70
oxidizing material for Western firs wood. Particle size of wood
powder, IO-20 mesh; particle size of oxidizing materials,
65-150 mesh: mass of sample, 30 g; position of ignition, above
Relative volume ot the position of ignition/W base line of cone; vertical range of data points, standard
deviation. Incomplete burning is plotted on the infinity
0 50 60 70 80 90
(Top) Relative height /WI (Lower)
Types of wood
Figure 15 Relationship between burning time and position of
ignition of Western firs wood. Particle size of wood powder, To investigate an effect of the difference in the kinds of
IO-20 mesh; particle size of oxidizing materials, 65-150 mesh; wood used for wood powder, the burning test was
mass of sample, 30 g; vertical range of data point, standard performed varying the kinds of wood. Six kinds of
deviation
wood were used: Japanese beech (Fugus crenatu BL);
in Figure 16. The minimum of the burning times for the Western firs (Abies spp); Japanese cedar (Cryptomeriu
mixtures of PB, PP and AP is at around 80% for PB, juponica); Larch (Larix spp); Paulownia (fuulownia
80% for PP and 60% for AP, where the burning was tomentosa); and Zelkova (Zelkovu serrutu). These had
stable. When the content of PP in the mixtures a great variety of chemical compositions; the principal
decreases, especially to less than 50%, then combustion ingredients and heat of combustion are shown in
becomes unstable. Incomplete burning occurred with a Table 2. With wood powders ranging from 80 to 150
mixture containing 90% PP, with a mixture containing mesh and from 10 to 20 mesh. Figures 17 and 18 show
25% AP and with pure wood powder. the burning time against the percentage of soluble

Table 2 Chemical compositions of woods

Japanese cedar Paulownia Zelkova

Japanese beech Western firs ICrypromeria Larch (Paulownia (Zelkova
Name* (Fagus crenate SL) (Abies spp) japonica) (Larix spp) tomentosa) serrata )
Compositions (wt%)*
Ash content (at 600 “C) 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.8
Soluble compositions in 16.9 13.1 12.9 21.0 25.6 28.7
water solution of 1%
NaOH
Alcohol-and-benzene- 0.8 2.3 3.2 3.2 9.2 11.3
soluble compositions
Lignin 22.3 29.7 32.7 28.5 20.7 25.4
Holocellulose 77.0 69.6 64.1 68.1 70.7 63.3
Heat of combustionc
fcal g-l) 4907(64) 4705(&V 4856(21) 4713(74) 4624(44) 4825(67)
Reference symbols JB WF JC LA PA ZE

a Scientific name parenthesized

b Analysed according to JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) P8002, P8003, P8008, P8010 and P8012
c Standard deviation parenthesized

142 .I. Loss Prev. Process Ind., 1989, Vol2, July

 Characteristics of the conical pile type burning test: K. Hasegawa et al.

Particle size of wood powder : from 80 to 150 mesh Particle size of wood powder 1from IO to 20 mesh
K&O,, KClO+ (NH&SzOe

- Ratio 5 5 A :(NH&SzOa, Smouldering

----- .Ratio 8. 2 - :Ratio 5~5
--- :Ratio 8:2

400 PA
JB La
ZE

JC
k--
200
/

20
f 4
_ _@Yp- -

5 P
6
0 o _ __z--‘-_
Figure 17 Relationship between burning time and alcohol- IO f---
and-benzene soluble composition. Particle size of oxidizing I T
materials, 65-150 mesh; mass of sample, 30 g; position of 8
ignition, above base line of cone; vertical range of data point, 6
I
standard deviation. Names of woods correspond to symbols in 6
Tab/e 2
I
41 ’ I a I ” I ” ” ”
0 5 IO
material in alcohol and benzene, respectively. In spite
Alcohol-and benzene-soluble composition /(wt %I
of a great difference in the alcohol- and benzene-
Figure18 Relationship between burning time and alcohol-
soluble compositions among the kinds of wood, the
and-benzene-soluble composition. Conditions as in Figure 17
burning times are not much affected. It can be deduced
from this that the burning time is also independent of 0
j zE:g:} Flomlng
other chemicals in the wood. The burning for AP
: ‘(NH~)eSa08,SmoulderIng
mixtures of the ratio of 8:2 with wood powder ranging --I-&I- ‘Ratio 5:5
-_&+___
both from 80 to 150 mesh and from 10 to 20 mesh was
I .L Rotlo 6:2

changeable depending on the type of wood.

Draft velocity
The burning test was performed while changing condi- --Z
tions of the draft velocity of air in the chamber.
Figure 19 shows the influence of draft velocity on the
burning time. The burning time in general decreases
slightly with draft velocity. As a test method to evaluate
the contribution to combustion, the burning time
should be independent of the oxygen in the air.
However, it is necessary to ventilate the smoke to make
a test sample visible. But, even so, the draft velocity
should be kept as low as possible.
Draft velocity /(m/sac)

Figure 18 Relationship between burning time and draft velo-

Conclusions city for Western firs wood. Particle size of wood powder, lo-20
mesh; particle size of oxidizing materials, 65-150 mesh; mass
To obtain reliable, reproducible and universal data by of sample, 30 g; position of ignition, above base line of cone;
the conical pile type burning test for the potential vertical range of data point, standard deviation

J. Loss Prev. Process Ind., 1999, Vol 2, July 143

Characteristics of the conical pile type burning test: K. Hasegawa et al.

hazard of oxidizing materials, the test method should (particularly potassium perchlorate) bum unstably
be modified further taking into consideration the and intermittently.
following. l The burning of the mixture is only slightly affected
by differences in wood type.
Wood powders whose particle size is <32 mesh give
l The burning time changes slightly with draft velocity
reproducible results independent of their formation
of air.
process. When the particle size of wood powder is
>32 mesh, both the particle size and the apparent
density should be provided. Acknowledgments
When the particle size of the oxidizing materials is The authors thank the Committee of Dangerous
small (and in general (65 mesh), the state of Materials in Japan for their encouragement and com-
burning is stable and the scatter of data is also ment and Dr B. J. Thomson of the Health & Safety
relatively less. Executive, Explosion and Flame Laboratory for his
A water content 4% in the wood powder does not amendments to this paper.
necessarily follow the equilibrium state at the condi-
tion of burning test, namely, temperature 20 + 5 “C
References
and humidity 50 f 5%.
The larger the mass of sample, the closer the burning 1 United Nations, Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous
Goods, Fifth revised edition, ST/SG/AC.lO/l/Rev.5,1988
comes to a steady state; the burning of 30 g of 2 Kuchta, J. M., Furno, A. L. and Imhof, A. C., Classification Test
sample mass seems to achieve this state. Methods for Oxidizing Materials, US Bureau of Mines, R17594,
The behaviour of the burning mixtures is dependent 1972
3 IMCO Subcommittee on the Carriage of Dangerous Goods, Status
on the position of ignition on the conical pile. The Report on the Formulation of Criteria for Class 4 and 5.1,
position of ignition that provides the most severe submitted by the United Kingdom, CDGXXXII/INF.4, 11
situation of combustion varies with the oxidizing November, 1980
4 United Nations Secretariat, ST/SG/AC.lO/C.Z/R.317, 17 Novem-
material. ber 1981, Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous
When the content of oxidizing material in the Goods, Group of Rapporteurs, 28th session, 8-12 March 1982,
mixture is dominant (i.e. around 60% to 80%) the Divisions 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 of Class 4 and division 5.1 of Class 5,
submitted by the Rappoteur from FRG
state of burning is stable. On the other hand, 5 Uehara, Y., andNakajima, T. J. Haz. Mat. 1985,10,89
mixtures containing less than 50% oxidizing material 6 Official Journal of the European Communities, 1984, LZSl(27). 89

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